Sao Paulo is preparing to welcome thousands of tourists in the World

The state of Sao Paulo is prepared to be the " major port " entry of tourists during the World Cup 2014 , because most visitors will stop in the Brazilian metropolis before moving to their final destinations , said Tuesday the regional government .

"Cities like Rio de Janeiro and Salvador are also ports of entry, but most tourists arrive via Sao Paulo ," said Marketing Director Paulista Company of Tourism and Events ( TUR.SP ), Orlando de Souza, during forum ' Café da Manhã Efe ' , held at the Instituto Cervantes.

For De Souza, attractions such as the nearby beaches , " 80 kilometers or an hour's drive ," and gastronomy in Sao Paulo to become one of the key destinations for the World Cup . However, the responsible marketing of state TUR.SP admitted that "it is difficult to attract tourists who have another destination in mind."

De Souza stated that the guidance offered TUR.SP fifty circuits divided into the areas of " Recreation and culture", " Adventure and Nature ", " Food " and " sun and beach " . Sao Paulo , the regional capital of the state , will receive six World Cup matches , four in the first phase , including the opening between Brazil and Croatia on 12 June by the Group A.

In addition, the state has 32 ​​"base cities" approved by FIFA for the preparation of the choices in Brazilian territory. Officially, according to De Souza, Ribeirao Preto confirmed France and Mexico and Costa Rica to the port of Santos, although other teams have booked sports complexes in the state of Sao Paulo.

Paulistas cities like Porto Feliz ( Honduras ) , Mogi das Cruzes (Belgium ) , Itu (Japan) , COTIA ( Colombia ) , Campinas (Portugal ) , Guarulhos ( Iran) and self Sao Paulo (USA) have practically ready arrival selections .

In this regard, De Souza highlighted the option of staying in Iran Guarulhos , five minutes from Cumbica International Airport, the largest in the country and operates to Sao Paulo , and twelve Training Center club Corinthians , with a prime location to escape the congestion of the largest city in the country.

The forum, organized by the agency Efe , the president of the Spanish airline Air Europa, Juan Jose Hidalgo , presented the Madrid- Sao Paulo route , which opened Monday. " Welcome to Air Europa. Brazil needs more and more of the airline deals . A study revealed that the country has a potential (annual) of 160 million trips ," noted De Souza .

The " magnitude" of other events, such as Formula One and Motor , performed in parallel in São Paulo , a city that , according to De Souza, " has events every six minutes," make the metropolis is the best prepared for the flow of tourists.

"The World will not stop the city. 's All going to walk normally . But of course , we have a contingency plan. 'll Have an integrated line metro and subway station between Light (center) to the stadium (Arena Corinthians) with a duration of 18 minutes twice passenger suggested by Fifa , "he said .

Leo Messi in his statement "cashed my foundation, I do not"

El Pais published in today's edition that members of the Civil Guard moved to November 29 to interrogate Barcelona Messi and his colleagues Alves Pinto and Mascherano in relation to the charity match played on June 21, 2012 Bogota ( Colombia ) .

According to El Pais Barcelona striker , accompanied by his lawyer, admitted that in 2012 played several matches called beneficial Messi and his friends against the rest of the world and stated that these matches are organized society " image and something else [not remember, but was referring to Sports Image] , run by Guillermo Marin, who sold the show to entrepreneurs in countries where they are held , and these are those who organize . "

The officers asked if he knew the match organizer of Bogotá. He said he did know "the person who organized the party, which was in Bogotá, but do not know if Andrew Boat" . Boat is considered the head of the network that allegedly laundered illicit money with these games. Asked by the agents, said he never saw a ship in Barcelona, ​​and he did not know if someone in your family was with him .

El Pais reports that Messi was also asked if he knew about Guillermo Marin. "It is an Argentine businessman I know since 2006 and organizes matches my foundation, Lionel Messi. [ But ] there is no relationship between him and my foundation . " Who in your family is in contact with Marin ? , He inquired . "I do not , the contacting is my father."

Messi said that he and his colleagues were charged money from those games, except in Bogota and that the money was not for him but for his foundation . " My foundation received money , I do not remember the amount , but it is what was written on a check we hold large boat and I, and with which we photographed . Then the foundation gives money to other charitable NGOs. "

When asked if he knew what the money was given NGOs Party Bogotá. " That's what I think [ that gave money to charities ] , but do not know exactly ."

They asked her what money charged the other players who participated in the game. " I do not know , at least those of Barcelona , no, the other I know nothing ."

Messi's father says on the Colombian connection

Although the Ministry of Interior and the Civil Guard were quick to disassociate Jorge Messi the ' Firmament ' operation , the newspaper El Mundo published Tuesday that the father of the Argentine striker of FC Barcelona will have to testify before agents the Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard (UCO ) as soon as possible .

'The World ' put in the spotlight to point out to Jorge Messi suspicion of " drug money laundering " through massive ticket Row 0 in friendly matches with charitable status that Leo has played with ' The Friends of Messi ' in South America.

So far, the investigations have resulted in four people arrested over a dozen suspects, but the investigation remains open and, according to El Mundo , Jorge Messi will make statements to the agents of the Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard (UCO ) when he returns from Argentina , where he is to spend Christmas . This statement clarifies the newspaper, and was planned long initiative of UCO agents themselves, but Jorge Messi 's stay in Rosario ( Argentina ) has postponed until you return .

Ensures ' El Mundo ' the statement of the father of Barcelona player " is needed to clarify his alleged contacts with the network of laundering of drug trafficking and dismantled , that is, with the Colombian connection , whose money has been washing in the many events investigated " .

The newspaper adds that his statement of evidence of criminal conduct arising and no reason to impute , Jorge Messi also be subpoenaed to testify in court that instructs the proceedings.

The case is under a gag order in the Court of Instruction number 51 of Madrid , headed by Eduardo López- Palop, the same case that deals with the Madrid Arena.

Chelsea eliminated and the City, the semi-finals of the English League Cup

Manchester City qualified for the semifinals Tuesday Cup English Football League after defeating smoothly for 1-3 to Leicester City in the quarter -final stage that could not overcome Chelsea eliminated in overtime by Sunderland ( 2-1).

Manchester City rival Barcelona in the knockout stages of the Champions League , won 1-3 at Leicester City, in the second category (Championship ) , thanks to an early goal from Aleksandar Kolarov Serbian and later Bosnian Edin Dzeko double in a game that did not have to do a great show .

Which will not be in the quarterfinals will be the Portuguese Jose Mourinho Chelsea defeated in overtime by Sunderland and directed by former player of Uruguayan Gustavo Poyet London team .

Mourinho's team , paired in the Champions League with Turkish Galatasaray took the scoring with an own goal from Lee Cattermole very start of the second half, but the Italian Fabio Borini equalized in the 89th minute to bring the game to overtime .

In overtime was Sunderland who created more danger, and the result of his tenacity minute goal came 119 South Korean Ki Sung- Yueng played.

Results quarterfinals :

Tuesday:

Leicester City 1 - Manchester City 3

Sunderland 2 - Chelsea 1